Money (and us) may distract our sons and daughters from going into all the world to preach the Gospel. What can we do, what will we do to remove all obstacles AND to encourage their obedience to follow Jesus, as he went from town to town preaching ‘repent and believe’?

I can’t say I grew up being pressed and encouraged to follow Jesus Christ; rather to live and let live, peaceably. It was a piece of the gospel, but a tragically small piece. I did learn all of the code and the expectations, but I somehow missed the desire and delight of knowing and following our Savior. His mission was somehow put before me sermon after sermon; how could I have missed its charge to me (and you) personally?!

I even grew up knowing this text, and in some degree of reality, being influenced by it… “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16 ESV)

I feared this Word. I did not want to be spit out from God! This was an anchor for my soul in my youth. Glory to God. I am so needy, yet I would never admit it. I am so lukewarm, but I don’t even have a sense of it; I assume so much. Help me, help us. God, please, we are desparately wicked and deceived, please help us.

And so this word speaks clearly to me and perhaps to you?

My younger brother in Jesus Christ, Jack, spurred me on today with the following clip. Thank you Lord. I am too worldly… I am consumed with earthly-directed thinking to the degree that I divorce myself from the essential integration of faith and living… my faith somehow gets compartmentalized and boxed away from the day to day decision-making, from the 1 yr, 3 yr, 5 yr, 10 yr plan? Where do I want to live becomes a place on Earth rather than a hope in Glory. God help me. God help us. Please, specifically help us, your church at GPBC to know and love and follow you to the ends of the earth.

Some favorite Truths…

1 Pet 4:12 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 Thes 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Jer 9:23-24 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

Prov 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

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